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Bears Draft Safety Thieneman, First Defensive First-Round Since 2018

4/25/2026

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Summary

Bears Draft Thieneman

Chicago Bears selected safety Dillon Thieneman with the No. 25 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, their first defensive first-round choice since linebacker Roquan Smith in 2018 and the first first-round safety since 1990.
He recorded 92 tackles and All-Big Ten honors, then posted a 4.35-second 40-yard dash and a 41-inch vertical at the 2026 Combine.
The Bears finished 11-6, won the NFC North and reached the divisional playoff round.

Summary

Bears Trade Picks

The Bears traded their 60th-overall pick to the Tennessee Titans for the 69th-overall third-round slot and a 144th-overall fifth-round pick.
They used the 57th-overall pick on Iowa center Logan Jones, while scouting director Breck Ackley praised Thieneman’s versatility, and selected Stanford tight end Sam Roush with the 69th-overall pick.
After the selections, FanDuel Sportsbook listed the Bears at +2,500 odds to win the Super Bowl.

History

Historical Context

Since the NFL instituted its draft in 1936, the Chicago Bears have often used first-round selections to bolster defense, drafting Hall-of-Famer Mike Ditka in 1961 and linebacker Dick Butkus in 1965. In 2018 the Bears chose linebacker Roquan Smith eighth overall, and in 2026 they continued the trend by taking safety Dillon Thieneman at No. 25, reflecting a decades-long defensive rebuilding strategy.

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Bears Draft Thieneman

Chicago Bears selected safety Dillon Thieneman with the No. 25 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, their first defensive first-round choice since linebacker Roquan Smith in 2018 and the first first-round safety since 1990.
He recorded 92 tackles and All-Big Ten honors, then posted a 4.35-second 40-yard dash and a 41-inch vertical at the 2026 Combine.
The Bears finished 11-6, won the NFC North and reached the divisional playoff round.

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